Cognitive Neuroscience

Question 1

Network Organisation in the Brain

Answer 1

cost control _few long distance connections
efficiency- ability to integrate information across the brain

Question 2

Single Unit recording

Answer 2

1. micro eletrode inserted in the brain
2. activity from a single neuron
3. TEMPORAL and SPACIAL resolution
   * highly invasive
   * demages cells
   * expensive
   * to narrow to assess higher cognitive processes

Question 3

Event Related Potencials (ERPs)

Answer 3

1. eletrical activity on the scalp
2. TEMPORAL resolution
3. detailel continuos record of brain activity
   * limited spacial resolution (skull and brain tissue distort electrical fields)
   * numerous trials required
   * hard to study complex cognitions

Question 4

functional Magnetic ressonance imaging (fMRI)

Answer 4

1. non invasive measure
2. SPATIAL resolution
3. event related
   * expensive
   * poor temporal
   * indirect measure
   * distortion in some brain regions
   * constraints on stimuli that can be presented

Question 5

Magneto-encephalography (MEG)

Answer 5

1. measures magnetic fields produced by brain activity
2. high TEMPORAL and good SPATIAL resolution
   * extremely expensive
   * unconfortable for teh patient
   * new and complicated

Question 6

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Answer 6

1. brief pulse emitted by a coil next to the skull
2. creates interference that can resemble brain lesion
3. disrupted area small and controlled by experimenter
4. provides direct evidence for involvement of brain regions
   * effects no fully understood
   * can enhance performance
   * other areas may also be afeccted
   * limited to brain areas direct under skull

Question 7

transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS)

Answer 7

1. mais leve que a TMS
2. movel
3. levemente invasivo
4. specific area of the brain

Question 8

fNIRS

Answer 8

1. helmet
2. movel, leve e pode ser usado em pacientes que tem dificuldade em se manter em uma unica posicao.
3. SAPCIAL and TEMPORAL resolution

Question 9

STRENGHS

Answer 9

• combinacao de tecnicas que oferecem otimas resolucoes espaciais e temporais
• mais informacoes pra adicionar a behavior measures
• ajudou a resolvr muitas controversias em teorias
• brain cognition relationship
• TMS permite casual interferences

Question 10

LIMITATIONS
Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 10

• pode ser dificil de relacionar parte do cerebro com cognitive processes
• false positive can oftem be reported
• provides only correlational evidence
• most research fails to test cognitive theories
• lacks ecological validity
• functional modularity is not totally valid